I saw someone in a comment here call Bush the Winguts' Waterboy and I really liked that. And I believe it is completely accurate.
Let's be clear what has happened here - George W. Bush was simply not allowed by the Extreme Radical Right Wing of his Party to choose the person he wanted for the Supreme Court. It is that simple. Understand, it was NOT the Senate that blocked his nominees - which would have been in keeping with the U.S. Constitution - it was the Extreme Radical Right Wing of the Republican Party which blocked an up or down vote on Harriet Miers.
Unremarked is the fact that Bush's first choice for the Supreme Court was always Alberto Gonzales. The Extreme Radical Right Wing of his Party told him in no uncertain terms that Gonzales was unacceptable to them. It so happens I saw Gonzales as unacceptable as well, for different reasons (torture). But the bottom line is President Bush was prohibited by the extreme elements of his own Party from choosing his own nominee.
The Extremists didn't trust Bush, especially after he fooled Dobson on Miers. They demanded an Extreme Nominee. And Bush carried their water - he nominated Scalito.